Apparatus for preventing operation of subsurface well tools



nited States Patent ce APPARATUS FER PREVENHNG OPERATION OF SUESURFAlIE WELL TGOLS Martin Conrad, Downey, Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, ind, Vernon, Califi, a corporation of California 12 Claims. (Cl. 166-239) The present invention relates to well devices, and more particularly to subsurface devices or apparatus useful in bore holes, such as oil, gas and similar wells.

This application is a division of the application of Reuben C. Baker, Thomas M. Ragan, John R. Baker and Martin B. Conrad, Serial No. 1,845, filed January 12, 1948, for Gas Operated Well Apparatus, now Patent W0. 2,640,547.

Certain types of apparatus, such as the well packer and setting tool combination disclosed in the above parent application, are lowered in a well bore for the purpose of accomplishing desirable objectives therein and the release of the setting tool from the packer. Under certain conditions, it is desired to remove the apparatus from the well bore without setting the packer or accomplishing some other objective. However, upward movement of the running-in string to which the apparatus is secured may effect actuation of the apparatus.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a running-in string, such as a wire line, in which the apparatus may be positively locked to prevent its operation following its disposition in the well bore.

Another object of the invention is to provide subsurface, mechanically movable devices for actuating a well tool, in which such devices can be rendered inoperable, whenever desired, while disposed in a well bore.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and

has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. They will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section through one embodi ment of the invention, disposed in a well casing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the upper portion of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. l, with the apparatus locked in inoperable position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 on Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

The apparatus A disclosed in the drawings constitutes the upper portion of the equipment illustrated in the above parent application, Serial No. 1,845,. being secured to a wire line B by means of which the entire combination of equipment is lowered through a well casing. C, for the purpose or" operating the lower portion of the equipment,

which may be a setting tool and packer combination (not shown). As described fully in the above parent application, the well packer is to be anchored in packed-off con- 2,713,915 Fatented duly 26, 1955 din'on in the well casing, after which the setting tool is released from the anchored packer.

Operation of the setting tool portion of the apparatus is initiated by firing a cartridge (not shown), disposed in the setting tool, by means of a firing pin Ill having a tapered point 11 adapted to impose a striking force against the cartridge. The firing pin extends downwardly from a flange or spring seat 12 integral with a firing pin shaft 13, all of these elements being disposed within a gun body 14 secured to the setting tool (not shown). A compressed helical spring 15 is disposed between the seat 12 and the upper end 16 of the central bore 17 through the body 14, this spring 15 exerting sufficient force to shift the pin 19 downwardly and cause its end to deliver a blow against the cartridge, for the purpose of firing the latter.

The shaft 13 of the pin extends upwardly through an elongate transverse slot 18 within the body, its upper end being formed with a pair of wings or hooks 19 adapted to be engaged by inwardly directed latch fingers 25 on the lower ends of latch levers 21 disposed in the body slot 18 and pivotally mounted on pins 22 supported in the body. The upper arms 23 of the levers are urged in an outward direction, to maintain the latch fingers 2i) engaged under the firing pin hooks 19, by an expansible spring 24 whose opposite ends are received within recesses 25 in the arms 23. So long as the spring 24 holds the upper lever arms 23 outwardly, and the latch fingers 20 under the firing pin hooks 19, the firing pin 10 is maintained in elevated position above the cartridge, holding the firing spring 15 in a highly compressed condition. When the latch lever arms 23 are moved inwardly toward each other, their fingers 24) are swung outwardly from engagement with the firing pin 10, allowing the firing spring 15 to move the pin 10 downwardly to strike a blow against the cartridge.

The upper end of the gun body 14 is threaded into a sinker bar or jarring device 26 to provide sutficient weight for forcing the entire apparatus through the well fluid during its descent in the casing C. The upper end of the jarring device or sinker bar 26 is secured to a wire line socket 27 having an enlarged bore 28 for the reception of the unravelled lower end 29 of the wire line B. As is well known, the wire line may be firmly secured in the socket 27 by filling the bore 28 of the latter with Babbitt metal 30, or any other suitable material.

It is preferred to employ a jarring device 26 instead of merely a sinker bar in the event it is necessary to forcibl'y retrieve the apparatus from the well casing. This jarring device includes a lower head 31 threaded on the upper end of the gun body 14. An outer barrel 32 is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the head and has an upper head 33 welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to and within it. An inner mandrel 34 is disposed within the barrel 32, having a lower head 35 adapted to engage the lower barrel head 31 when in its lowermost position, and also with the upper head 33, when in its uppermost position. This mandrel 34 is threaded into the lower end of the wire line socket 27, and preferably has a flange 36 to substantially bridge the space between the socket 27 and barrel 32 when the mandrel is fully telescoped within the barrel.

Reciprocation of the mandrel 34, as a result of reciprocating the wire line B, will cause its head 35 to strike one or more hammer blows against either the lower or ably secured to these collars 38, 39, as by the use of V encompassing rings 41 and screws 42. The springs frictionally engage the wall of the well casing C, tending to resist movement of the drag device 37 therewithin. Nevertheless, the drag device is forced through the well casing C during lowering of the apparatus therein by engagement of the upper collar 38 with a shoulder 43 on the wire line socket 27. Upward movement of the wire line B, after the desired location has been reached in the well bore at which the apparatus is to be actuated, moves l ing or hanging upon the jarring device 26, the latter is purposely 'maintained in its fully contracted position,

, with the mandrel head 35 adjacent the lower barrel head '31; so that a substantial gap 44 does not exist between .the upper end of the barrel 32 and the fiange 36, in which the drag collars might catch. Maintenance of the mandrel 34 in the barrel 32 in this desired relative position is assured by a shear pin 45 extending through the mandrel head 35 into the outer barrel 32; If the jarring mechanism is to be operated, a pull taken on the wire line B of sufficient force will shear the pin' 45. But at that time, the drag device 37 has already performed its function of releasing the latch levers 21, and it is immaterial whether the drag device subsequently catches or hangs up on the jarring mechanism 26.

As described above, upward movement of the wire line B efiects release of the firing pin 10 and initiates the operation of the apparatus in the well bore. Under some circumstances, it is desired to remove the apparatus from the well casing C, after it has been lowered therewithin, without operating the apparatus. To prevent such upward movement from operating the apparatus, the drag device 37 can be locked in its upper position by a mechanism now to be described.

The upper drag collar 38 has an upwardly extending sleeve portion 46 provided withan inner circular groove or recess 47 having an upward and inwardly tapering shoulder 48. The wire line socket 27 is providedwith a transverse slot 49, in which a pair of opposed latch levers 50 are pivotally mounted on pins 51. These levers 59 have upwardly extending fingers 52 formed with outer tapered portions 53 companion to and engageable with the tapered sleeve shoulder 48, and also with inner surfaces 54 which are positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the wire line B when the fingers 52 engage "the shoulder 48. The fingers also have upwardly and outwardly tapered guiding surfaces 55 extending between the parallel surfaces 54 and their upper ends.

' Inward and outward movements of the latch levers 50 r are limited by stop pins 56 in the socket body 27 extending through enlarged holes 57 in the levers.

Should it be desired to remove the apparatus from the well casing C after it has been lowered therewithin, without effecting operation of the apparatus, the latch fingers 52 are locked within the sleeve recess 47. It is to .be

noted that during lowering of the apparatus in the casing, the upper drag collar 38 is in its uppermostposition, with its recess .47 opposite the latch fingers 52. Accordingly, a go-devil 58 of tubular form may be droppe over the wire line B and will engage the tapered surfaces 55 on the fingers 52, forcing the latter outwardly into the recess 47 in'the drag collar sleeve 46. The go-devil will ride off the tapered surfaces 55 and be disposed within the' parallel latch finger surfaces 54, acting as a positive stop against inward movement of the latches 50' from the collar recess 47.

Outward movement of the balls 50a is limited by their en- Upward movement of the wire line B will then also produce corresponding upward movement of the drag device 37, since the latter is coupled to the wire line socket 27 through the latch fingers 52 and their engagement with the shoulder 48. Accordingly, relative downward movement of the drag device 37 along the socket Z7 and jarring mechanism 26 is prevented, which precludes release of the latch levers 21 from thefiring pin 18 and down ward propulsionof the latter to fire the cartridge (not shown).

It is to be noted that the latch device 50 does not prevent normal operation of the apparatus, since upward movement of the wire line B, in the absence of the godevil 58, will merely cause the tapered ends 53 of the i latch fingers to be forced inwardly by the tapered shoulder 48, out of the sleeve recess 47. In other words, the fingers 52 are ineffective to perform their function of latching the drag device .37 to the wire line socket 27 unless the go-devil 58 is dropped into engagement with them.

A modified form of latch device is illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5. In general, this device operates in the same manner as the other lock mechanism.

The modified device also includes a sleeve 46a integral with and extending upwardly from the upper drag collar 38, and having a recess 47a terminating in an upwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder 48a. The wire line socket 27a has a plurality of generallyradial holes 60 extending laterally therethrough, each of these holes receiving a ball detent or lock element 50a. Inward movement of each'ball 50a is limited by its engagement with a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders 61 extending inwardly toward each other from the sides of the hole 60.

gagement with a retainer sleeve 62 encompassing the upper portion of the wire line socket 27a in the region of the holes 60. The balls 50a may extend outwardly through openings 63 in the sleeve 62 in alignment with the socket holes 60.

When the upper drag collar 38 is in engagement with the socket shoulder 43a, its recess 47a is disposed in transverse alignment with the holes 60. In this position,

the balls 50a can project outwardly through the retainer sleeve openings 63 to an extent insuring their disposition in the recess 47a and subsequent engagement with the tapered shoulder 48a. Similarly, theballs 50a may occupy an inward position slightly within the central bore 64. V

of the socket 27a, and completely within the confines of the retainer sleeve 62.

In the event the latch device need not be used in withdrawing the apparatus, an upward pull on the wire line B will merely cause the balls 50a to ride up the tapered shoulder 48a and inwardly of the holes 60, the balls being incapable of locking the upper drag collar38 to the wire line socket 27a. However, in'the event it is desired to prevent operation of the apparatus, a tubular go-devil V 58 is dropped down the wire line B into engagementwith the balls 50a, pushing them .outwardlyinto the 7 recess 47a in the sleeve portion 46a of the upper drag collar 38, as disclosed in Fig. 4.

The go-devil 58 will slide readily along the balls 50a and come to rest on the socket 270:, with the periphery of the go-devil preventing an inward retracting movement of the balls (Fig. 4). Accordingly, upward movement of the wire line B will also move the upper drag collar 38 with it, since the balls 50a are held by the go-devil 58 in engagement with the tapered shoulder 48a, coupling the] wire line socket 27a to the upper drag collar 38 and enabling the'e'ntire" apparatus to be withdrawn from the I well bore without being actuated.

The inventor claims: 1. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a device movable relatively along said member; lock means for coupling said device to said member; and means movable downwardly along said member from a' position removed from said lock means into engagement with said lock means to positively hold said lock means in a position coupling said device and member together to prevent their relative movement in at least one longitudinal direction.

2. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a device movable relatively along said member; lock means for coupling said device to said member; and means movable downwardly along said member from a position removed from said lock means into engagement with said lock means to positively shift and hold said lock means outwardly in a position coupling said device and member together against relative longitudinal movement.

3. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a Well bore; a device movable relatively along said member; lock means carried by said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said device; and means movable longitudinally along said member into engagement with and behind said lock means to positively hold said lock means outwardly in locking engagement with said device.

4. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall or" the well bore and movable relatively along said member; lock means carried by said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said drag device; and means movable longitudinally along said member into engagement with and behind said lock means to positively hold said lock means outwardly in holding engagement with said drag device to prevent relative movement therebetween in at least one longitudinal direction.

5. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a wire line; a device movable relatively along said member; lock means carried by said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said device; and a go-devil movable down the wire line into engagement with and behind said lock means to positively hold said lock means outwardly in locking engagement with said device to prevent relative movement between said member and device in at least one longitudinal direction.

6. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a wire line; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well bore and movable relatively along said member; lock means carried by said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said drag device; and a go-devil movable down the wire line into engagement with and behind said lock means to hold said lock means outwardly in locking engagement with said drag device to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said member and drag device in at least one direction.

7. in well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a device movable relatively along said member; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said device; and means movable longitudinally along said member into engagement with and behind said lever to positively hold said lever in coupling engagement with said device and prevent longitudinal movement between said member and device in at least one longitudinal direction.

8. in well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well bore and movable relatively along said member; a latch lever pivotally carried by said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said drag device; and means movable longitudinally along said member into engagement with and behind said latch lever to hold said latch lever in coupling engagement with said drag device to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said mem ber and device in at least one direction.

9. in well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a wire line; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the Well bore and movable relatively along said member; a latch lever pivotally mounted on said member and movable outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said drag device; and a go-devil movable down the wire line into engagement with and behind said lever to hold said lever in engagement with said drag device to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said member and drag device.

10. in well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a device movable relatively along said member; a ball carried by and coupled to said member and movable in a direction outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said device; and means movable along said member into engagement with and behind said ball to hold said ball in coupling engagement with said device, while said ball remains coupled to said member, to prevent relative longitudinal move ment between said member and said device.

11. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well bore and movable relatively along said member; a ball carried by and coupled to said member and movable in a direction outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said drag device; and means movable along said member into engagement with and behind said ball to hold said ball in coupling engagement with said drag device, while said ball remains coupled to said member, to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said member and drag device.

12. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be lowered in a well bore on a wire line; a drag device adapted to frictionally engage the wall of the well bore and movable relatively along said member; a ball carried by and coupled to said member and movable in a direction outwardly of said member into coupling engagement with said device; and a go-devil movable down the wire line into engagement with and behind said ball to hold said ball in coupling engagement with said drag device, while said ball remains coupled to said member, to prevent longitudinal movement in at least one direction between said member and drag device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,382 Quintrell et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,327,362 McDonald et al. Aug. 24, 1943 2,387,456 McDonald et al Oct. 23, 1945 

